National Committee Spotlight: National President

As we start the second half of this National Committee’s term, I wanted to give an opportunity for each member to briefly reflect on their experience and offer some insight into their respective roles. Starting with our National President, the National Committee Spotlight series will highlight each National Committee member as we approach our National Elections and Leadership Assembly. To learn more about running for National Committee, click here.

Carolyn Lok – National President

What is your role? Give us a brief description of what you do in your role.

As National President, I serve as the liaison to the PRSA Senior Vice President of Programs and the PRSA Board of Directors. I advise and instruct the National Committee through their initiatives and programs to reflect the current needs of the Society. I’m also the designated hypeman — unofficially, of course.

What does a typical day look like for you as a PRSSA National Committee member?

Trick question — there is no typical day. As president, I have to put on a lot of hats to ensure that each member of my team feels supported. Every day presents itself with new challenges and opportunities, so I make sure I’m constantly in contact with every Committee member. Another one of my priorities is to be the main point of contact for PRSSA Headquarters and PRSA. I attend various board meetings to establish open lines of communication with the Society and its supporters.

What has been your favorite project/initiative to work on so far?

I have a hand in a lot of the projects that the Committee has worked on, but one thing I am spearheading currently is the 2021 Leadership Assembly. Since it will be held virtually again this year, I’ve been working closely with HQ to come up with stellar programming that we hope our future Chapter leaders will find valuable and engaging.

What has been the most challenging aspect of your role so far?

Learning how to lead an organization through a global pandemic has not been an easy feat. COVID has obviously put a damper on a lot of the plans we had this year, so we had to get creative in how we engaged our members. Additionally, this is the first year where the National Committee hasn’t been able to meet one another in person. Nonetheless, I’ve seen amazing bonds created among this team, and I couldn’t be prouder with what we have accomplished so far.

What advice would you share with your future successor?

Always stay true to yourself. Being president isn’t an easy role to execute and you won’t get everything done that you may have wished. That doesn’t mean you’re a failure. As long as you give it your all, this can be one of the most fulfilling roles you’ll ever be in.

Anything else you would like to share?

I cannot emphasize enough how much this organization has meant to me. I began my college career with PRSSA, and I’m happy to say it’s stuck with me to the very end. I’ve met the best of people through this organization and had the best of times. I’m looking forward to staying on the board as Immediate Past President and continue to support the new student leaders. If anyone is on the fence about joining PRSSA or running for Committee, let someone who has been through it all tell you: You won’t regret it.

Lightning Round

Favorite hobby? Sleeping

Favorite app? Twitter

Favorite TV show/movie/video game? Superbad (movie)

Favorite music artist? Amy Winehouse

Favorite Quote/Piece of Advice: Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” ― Shel Silverstein


Zach Ferenchak

Zach Ferenchak, 2020–2021 vice president of brand engagement, is a senior at Capital University, a private university in Columbus, Ohio. He is majoring in emerging media with an emphasis in public relations and minors in journalism and marketing. In his free time, Ferenchak can be found obsessing over the latest gadget or video game, exploring a coffee shop with friends, or going on a trail run. He hopes to elevate the voices of all PRSSA members through the organization’s various brand platforms. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.

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